Yarn feeding method and apparatus for knitting machines



June 16, 1953 a. c. A. ALRIC YARN FEEDING METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Feb; 12, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet i na June 16, 1953 G. c. A. ALRlC 2,641,913

YARN FEEDING METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Feb. 12, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 d 7; f L

5A at I 53 55 5'? 4g 54 6x Patented June 16, 1953 UNITED STATES YARN FEEDING'METHOD AND APPARATUS i FOR KNITTING MACHINES Gustave Charles Auguste Alric, Troyes, France,

assignor to Etablissements Poron, Troyes (Aube) France, a. French limited liability com- Application February 12, 1948, Serial No. 7,838

InFrance April 15, 1947 a .23 Claims. (01. 66-132) 1 This'inven'tion is concerned with a method 7 and an apparatus for feeding a yarn to a knitting machine. Oneof its objectsis to provide amethod and an apparatus whereby theyarn is accu rately fed to the machine under a constant tension. I

Another object of'this invention is to provide amethod and apparatus whereby the yarn is fed to the knitting machine at a constant, and advantageously adjustable output, so as to allow controlling in a simple manner the amount of yarn fed to said machine.

"A further object 'is topositively remove the yarn from-the source of supply by means of a rotary element so designed that the tension of the 'and low value, thus eliminating the variations of tension caused'by the resistances-encountered by the-yarn as it is unwound from said source.

These and other features oithe invention will be best understood and appreciated from the following description of preferred embodiments thereof, selected for purposes 'of'illustration only and shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a schematic cross sectional view illustrating the principle of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective viewof a first. practical embodiment of the invention;

Figs. 3 and 4 are detailed views corresponding 2 to make a certain number of coils around a. re-

volving element 2, each of thesecoils contacting this element 2 according to an angles, where a. is in radians.

will therefore be 12. a, n being the number of coils made by the yarn around, this element.

The tension regulating effect. is obtained by continuously varying-the lengthoitthis total arc of contact in proportion to the, actual'tension of the yarn at the entrance of the apparatus. This is obtained by arranging a movable element or picker such as a rod 3 near the cylinder 2; acer- The length of total are of con tact between the yarn and therevolving element yarn at the exit of this element be of a constant tain number of coils, preferably the last coils, are coiled simultaneously on the cylinder '2 and the element 3. The element 3 is mounted atthe end of the small arm is of a curved rod pivoted at 5, which is counterbalanced by a weight 1 or a spring acting upon the second arm 8 of said curved rod.

When the tension of the yarn decreases, weight 7- acts on the movable element 3 to move it away from the cylinder, when the mobile element '3 moves towards infinity.

These means allow'varying directly the arc of contact of the yarn with the revolving element.

During this variation, the resisting arc constituted by the passage on the movable rod 3 varies also, when this movable element recedes, to add its slowing action to the decrease in drive due to y position of the movable element 3, the yarn I I comes, or not into contact with the said-station'- aryelement.

f I When the tension'of the yarn decreases, the

"elementt is moved away from the cylinder 2, for example in the position shown at 3', in dotted lines. Now and for each of the coils of yarn which pass on the movable element 3, the driving are a is increased by an are a, which is also a driving are taken on cylinder '2, but it is diminished by a resisting are a greater, taken on the fixed organ 8. It will be understood therefore that itis possible, in this manner, through relatively limited movements of the element 3 to ob.- mm a relatively great variation of the total active are a, taking account of the fact that the value of the arcs a." and a." is multiplied by the number of coils of the yarn.

Fig. 2 illustrates, in perspective, one practical embodiment of the device which is schematically shown in Fig. 1. In this embodiment, the various elements acting on the yarn are mounted on a U-shaped support 8. This support is made integral with a fixed part 9a of the knitting machine by a support 9b. The revolving cylinder 2, and the revolving element 40 which acts as an output controller, are here mounted on the same driving shaft II.

It is advantageous to provide for adjusting the rotative speed of the cylinder 2 so that the peripheral speed of this cylinder is only slightly higher than the linear speed of the yarn at its surface. This result can be obtained by driving the shaft II at a variable speed; thus a speed variator can be interplaced between this shaft and the power source, or else a set of gears l2, l3, can be provided to transmit the rotation of the driving shaft [4 to the shaft H. The shaft [4 is one of the shafts of the knitting machine. This set of gears may of course be interchangeable, in order to take account of the particular properties of the yarn used in each case.

A rod mounted on a bracket l6 integral with the median part of the support 9 is arranged in a plane parallel to the axis of the cylinder 2; this rod can pivot in H on the said bracket and is stopped in its operatin position by a tang l3.

Near the surface of the cylinder 2 and near the rod !5, a movable element I9 is arranged, this element being integral with one arm 28 of a bent rod the other arm 2! of which supports a counterweight 22. This counterweight 22 can be, or not, adjustable in position, for example by being frictionally displaceable along the rod This bent rod is rotatable about an axle 23 integral with the median part of the lower branch of the support 9.

The yarn can be guided and supported onto the cylinder 2 by a revolving element 24 which will hereafter be described in detail. This element is mounted at the end of a bracket 25 integral with the upper branch of the support 9. A guide 26 is also provided, constituted in the same manner as the guide 24, which supports the coils of yarn which pass on the output control 10.

This output control ll! being cone shaped, it is advantageous, as already stated, to be able to move the coils of yarn which pass on its surface, this movement occurring in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of this output control. For this object, the guide 26 is mounted at the end of a movable part 21 adapted to slide along a rod 28 integral with the end of the lower branch of the support 9. A set screw 29 permits locking the part 21 in the selected position.

Due to the ratio of the peripheral speeds of V the two revolving elements, this device is suitable for yarns which are not ver extensible.

The displacement of the assembly 26, 21, 29 on the rod 2% permits, as it has been shown above, adjusting output of the yarn coming out of the device, said output being equal to the peripheral 'speed of the cone H3 at the place where the coils 32 are located. The yarn 38 coming from a reel "makes a certain number of turns around the regulator 2, the inner coils of this yarn, as in 3|, passing also on the mobile rod l9, then the said yarn makes a small number of coils, as in 32,

around the output control In and it is possible to obtain, at 33, at the exit of the device, a yarn having a controlled output, this yarn being guided then towards the knitting machine.

The elements 24 and 23 supporting the yarn are each preferably constituted, as shown in Fig. 3, by a cylinder 34 provided with grooves as 35. In one preferred form of embodiment this cylinder 34 is mounted free on a shaft 36, but it can, of course, be controlled so as to have a peripheral speed equal to the speed of the yarn.

The applicant has remarked that when the yarn is passed in fixed guiding devices, through notches or openings, puffs, dusts and the like accumulate in said notches or openings giving rise to supplementary undesired resistances and which in the most unfavorable cases, can partially shut off these openings and lead, if notto the abrasion of the yarn, at least to'a troublesome overtension.

This drawback is avoided by utilising revolving supports as 34.

The yarn is placed on the apparatus by disengaging first the revolving elements. The rod I5 is pivoted by means of the finger 31, which first raises only the rod 15, pivoted at II, which then, at the end of its course, raises also the rod H! which passes over the rod I 5. The regulator and the output control are then free and the yarn can be Wound on them very easily. Then the rod i9 is lowered and a few more coils are made, these being passed on this rod; now the coils 32 are made and the rod I5 is lowered into working position. Th device is now ready for operation.

First, it will be noted that whatever be the tension at 30, the number of coils 3|, 32 remains always the same. If the tension at 30 goes higher,

the yarn presses the rod [9 toward the cylinder 2, the driving are a is automatically increased and the resisting are a." made on the rod I5 is lowered, if not suppressed. Thus the increase of tension at 30 is absorbed by the consequently increased driving friction on the cylinder. If the tension at 30 goes lower, the pressure of the yarn on the rod [9 is also lowered. The rod I9 is raised and automatically the arc a. is reduced and the arc a" is obtained on rod l'5 or increased. In both cases, the tension of the yarn at the inlet of the cone It remains constant.

Of course, variations of tension occur at 33, by reason of the variations in the consumption of the yarn by the knitting machine. If, as indicated below, i2 is the tension imposed on the yarn by the knitting machine and t1 the tension of said yarn at the inlet of the cone H], the following relation must be observed:

where a=total arc of contact between the yarn and the cone in f=coefiicient of friction e=base of Naperian logarithms.

This is the well known belt formula.

If the condition is fulfilled no slippage occurs on the cone and the output remains constant. In practice, a, that is to say the number of coils, is chosen to take account of normal variations of tension, and no slippage occurs at 32.

If i2 is too high, use is made of a device which will be described below, so as to lower tz.

When no slippage occurs, it is quite evident that the yarn cannot leave the cone Ill at a linear speed greater than the peripheral speed of said cone at the point where the outlet coil is placed; so that a constant delivery is obtained.

In order that the output of the yarn coming out of the apparatus at 33 can actually be controlled, the coils 32 must not slip along the cone shaped surface of the output control If! and occupy an undesired position. To this end, the surface of the cone II] can be grooved as shown by Fig. M. It is also possible to constitute the surface of this cone H] by a given number of elementary cylinders as 38, 39, 49, etc. (Fig. 4), these cylinders having decreasin diameters and being small in height. Due to this arrangement,

' theeccilsxwwill not" tendrtoileaveethezsurfacezoi:

. bears: iorcbjeet'zagear: -44; driving; identical pinions 45s 2211(1145'. I'BSDBCtiYElY-i integral .with the;- cylinders 4|, 42. The coilsr'made-byitl'ie-yarn omth'eacylinders: 411 422 are guidedi by gro'oves. 41, 48.: made: in: the"- lateral? faces: of an fixed. central block 49, located between theztwcizcylinders; where. it'zcovers;onezpartzofi'the =surface-,-.v for example. as 51]: (Fig; 6) In:ordentoprevent:themoilszof varns1-leavingjthe grooves: t?! .48, rodsrsuchzass: 51; are advantageously:- provided', as: shown. in. Fig: 5') onitliretwo; 'facesioffitheblock wi In= this embodiment; onerof therods; 5| is; used asfa fixed .element-in:thesameemannerras rod offtheiembodiment: (Fig; 2); TIISSBiIQdS-T are off course, detachable andv are? inserted! into: corresponding bor es provided in v the:- block-1.49. as: shown in Figsa 5 and16i.

movable=- element; 522 is; constituted-l by: a1. aebent'z-rod; the branch: of: Which ispara11el t01 around: the; surface; of: the. --cone 59.: is? illustrated;

at 60,-. 21521001111111: Thiszcomb': 611 has aith'readett opening in: whiohr moves; the: axially 'fixed; rotateable screw: Bil operated'byrmeans dither-knurled" knob: 62': Therotation} of: the screw Gal: causes: the; comb.- 6 0? toemovestogether: with:v the. coilsi. It:- iszevident: thaizzthee' comb 5 B0. couldibee replacedthy; the}. rotating'zcyiin'den illustrated"; Eig; 3x This comb? moreover; is:guidedzandlisipreventedzfromz turning: by means. of: a; fixedi; I'O'dl". 53:: bearin smoothly.-

a. corresponding: cpenin made:v int.

- the; piece; 614; on: which: the: comic: 6 I11" mounted;

The; yarn:v which: leaves" the; tensiorr. limiterf witln an: approximately: constant; tension".- is led: onto) the:outputiccntrollerr'byrmeans oiza: guidingryarin rings 6.411;,

Thegz late' supportin theafeeding"apparatusris; mounted on; a suitable: fixed part: 541): off the: knitting machine by=- meansraoff twcrbolts": fif iczandi 54d; 1

The" out'puti controller: is: advantageously;

mounted the immediate vicinity." of: the.

ting; machine. It is=. possible v to: do this by Sec tioning: the; supplier: in twat parts the; sectiom acting' as output controller being? placed. at the desired; positiom.

is; also: possible: to. constitute? the feeding;- apparatus by; joining-,cin azsingle apparatumthea limiter; and: output: controller as it been specifiedi regardingaEigs:.2:zand 5. I'n' this:case;. andzwhemth'eztensioni tnimposed onv theayarnz bit the: cylinder: 4 I; .theiothenbranch, beingvhcrie:

the;: knitting machine; is. greatly; different, from. theztensiomti; of.-;the: yarn-entering.' the: said con: trollerzthis:tensionztzrmustz-bes steppedidown, i011 instance by means of a resisting; winch. of. a.

known;type;;thatziszto. sayi-cfa fixedwinch or. one turning: at; a. peripheral; speed. lower: than. the. lineari'speedzof. the yarn.. 1

Fig: 7 illustrates. a-..particular1yadvantageous; embodiment of .1 a step down 1 device for. the ten-r 1 sicn; 152;. Thea device: illustrated? is; constituted by cylindersorrcylindricalrrods165; 6.6; 61,- which are. mounted perpendicularly to. the; path.- of[ the. yarn and in the immediate vicinity of the knit? ting ma.cliine;.on; a fixedpartqfila of the;latter;- This device comprises; moreoverw a. leveradapted to pivot .1 around. an: axle 6.8.;locatedlbetween its; ends -and',suppcrtedzhyi'thei said :p art 61a andthe branch: 6 95% of; which; carries; two; cylindersg or: cy lindri'calirods "landf ll; .Aring l2 isiprovided.

- at. the otherw end of; lever; While. a counter.-=

sion of 'the yarn ataliigincreases; theabranchy 13.; 7 is urged downwards and the cylinders-10,.1jr rise ing, press onthe yarn and imposeztoathezlatt'er retarding arcsof contact-.withi theacylinders... 65, 613; 8'5; onone-han'd; and''lflzi'll'ontthexotherz. Due;

to thisarrangement; the: said retarding? arcs: of: contactwith tiiecylindersflpendi directly upon.

the: tension; ti: and: the. counter-weight.- 14 is: so: positioned-,that=these' arcszarea oiisufiicientlengthto: absorb saidtension consequently; thes-ten'esiorr of? the at the exit; ofrthee controller: is;

not increasedr'.

It is advant'ageousztoprdvidea clutchbetweem tl'ie'=shaft o fithe feeding apparatuswand.thesdriv ing: shjaftflfi-om the; knitting; machine, andlto: ef. feet the engaging and the disengaging; of the f clutolizwith azcertain'lag; This:r,esulti'is:-obtained by: means" v of: the); device; illustrated. in Figs-.. 8-- and. I

In. this: embodiment; thee engagement: of; the; driving'siiait i1; belonging to, the knitting maechine; and" the: shaft; 1810f: thBf: f eedingappara tus is obtained-1by4-meansacf.twoplateslaandiBni thefirst platea is: integral: with. the: shaft. 1,1; and; the second is mounted so..-as to siidez-on' the; shaft; 78" by means; of thezkey: 8!. The; plate: 80 nee valves, thus; in. unison with theashafti 18- and; can:

or the-knitting machine',g;is: not engagediw-ith the:

thread 8-2;. the. plate 80.: may descend; either. by-

: itstcwnweigghttor by means. of: a spring; and the.

tooth: 89:. engages a tooth; 8:7 borneebythe-plate Marthe shaitL'lB: isrthen drivenrotatively; in:.a-l clockwise direction, the tooth. 8.7p1iessihg; on the tciothfil. I

The: disengagement of the; clutch. is: made; by;- raisin'grthe arm thel'ifingfili8310011185.?311611 into. engagemenirwithathe:thread:8.23 to raise the-plateas; at; ar given; time; depending on.thevertical distance; through; which the; teethv 84: and. 81 co..- operatm; thei latter;- ceaseto, co .-.-op.erate,-. and the:

disengagement of the clutch is efiective. This lag in the disengagement of the clutch can be adjusted for instance by varying .the length of one of the teeth.

To this end, the tooth 81, partially located in a groove 88 made into the plate 19, is constituted by the bevelled end of a bent rod arm 89, which is movable around an axle 90 supported by bearings integral with the plate 19. The second arm 9| of this bent rod ends in a finger 92. When the clutch is disengaged, the preponderant weight of the arm 89 returns the arm 9| towards the shaft 18.

When it is desired to engage the clutch, the finger 83 is withdrawn and the plate 86 rests on the finger 92. Owing to the rotation of the plate 19, the finger 92 penetrates in the threaded part 82, this ensuring the progressive lowering of the plate Bil. When the teeth 84 and 8'! are in mesh, the latter rises, due to its inclined position, this resulting in spacing the finger 92 from the threaded part.

The amount by which the tooth 8'! raises may be limited by an adjustable tang 93, constituted for instance by a screw screwed in an arm 94 integral with the plate 79. This enables to adjust the cooperating length of the teeth 84 and 8'! and consequently the lag of the clutch, as the driving is effective as soon as the teeth can cooperate.

' What I claim is:

l. A method for feeding yarn to a knitting machine with constant tension comprising the steps of coiling said yarn a fixed number of turns around a revolving element having a peripheral speed greater at all points than the linear speed of said yarn; and altering the driving force on said yarn by continuously varying the length of the arc of contact of at least part of said turns with said revolving element in proportion to the actual tension of said yarn coiled on said revolving element and by passing said yarn over a fixed rod to provide a variable additional resisting arc.

2. A method for feeding yarn to a knitting machine with automatically constant output and tension comprising the steps of coiling said yarn a fixed number of turns around a revolving element having a peripheral speed greater at all points than the linear speed of said yarn; auto- L matically altering the driving force on said yarn by automatically and continuously varying the length of the arc of contact of at least part of said turns with said revolving element in proportion to the actual tension of said yarn coiled I on said revolving element; then coiling said yarn, which at this moment is at a constant tension, on a revolving cone; and varying the output of said yarn by moving said coils, as a Whole, on the surface of this cone.

' 3. A yarn feeder which comprises in combination, at least one revolving tension regulator on which the yarn is coiled; means to rotate said regulator with a peripheral speed greater at all points than the linear speed of said yarn; a supporting member to support a fixed number of coils of said yarn around said regulator; a movably mounted elongated element over which at least part of the coils of said yarn pass, said movably mounted element having its axis parallel to the axis of rotation of said regulator; means to move said movably mounted element in parallel relation to the axis of rotation of said regulator in proportion to the actual tension of said yarn coiled on said regulator; a second revolving element controlling the output of said yarn, said yarn having a given number of coils on said control element; means to rotate said control element with a peripheral speed equal to the speed which said yarn is to have at the entrance to said control element; and an adjustably mounted member supporting said coils of said yarn around said control element.

4. A yarn feeder according to claim 3 in which said regulator and said control element constitute a single assembly.

5. A yarn feeder according to claim 3 in which said regulator and said control element are spaced from each other. f

6. A yarn feeder according to claim 3 for feeding the yarn to a knitting machine in which said control element is located in the immediate vicinity of the knitting machine.

7. A yarn feeder which comprises in combination, at least one revolving tension regulator having the yarn coiled thereon; means for rotating said regulator with a peripheral speed higher at all points than the linear speed of said yarn; asupporting member located adjacent to said a regulator to support a fixed number of coils of said yarn around said regulator; a movably mounted elongated element overwhich at least one part of said coils of yarn pass, said movably mounted element having its axis parallel to the axis of rotation of said regulator; a 'fixedly mounted element located adjacent to said regulator and said movably mounted element; and means continuously to move said movably mounted element in proportion to the actual tension of said yarn coiled on said regulator and in parallel relation to said axis of rotation of said regulator, saidmovement causing said coils of said yarn passing over said movably mounted element to come in contact with said fixed element.

8. A yarn feeder which comprises in combination, at least one revolving tension regulator having the yarn coiled thereon, said regulator comprising a cylinder; means for rotating said regulator with a peripheral speed higher at all points than the linear speed of said yarn; a supporting member located adjacent to said regulator to support a fixed number of coils of said yarn around said regulator; a movably mounted elongated element over which at least one part of said coils of yarn pass, said movably mounted element having its axis parallel to the axis of rotation of said regulator; means for continuously moving'said movably mounted element in parallel relation to the axis of rotation of said regulator in proportion to the actual tension of said yarn coiled on saidregulator; an output controlling cone over which said yarn passes in a given number of coils, said cone being connected to said cylinder at the base of said cone, whereby said cone rotates with said cylinder, the diameter of said surface of said cone over which said yarn passes being less than the diameter of said cylinder whereby the periphtral speed of said surface of said cone is less than that of said cylinder and equal to the speed which said yarn is to have as it enters said control cone; and a member located adjacent to said control cone for supporting the coils of said yarn around said control cone.

9. A yarn feeder which comprises in combination, at least one revolving tension regulator having the yarn coiled thereon, said regulator comprising a cylinder; means for rotating said regulator with .a peripheral speed higher at all points than the linear speed of said yarn coiled @5641 acre thereon a supporting member loca-ted 'adjac'ent to "said -=regu1atorto support a fixe'd number or coils ofsaid yarnaround said regulator; an elongated "movably mounted lement "'over which 'at least -one part of said coils of yarn pass, said movably mountedelement-havingits *axis paralll to the axis -f '-rotati'on "of --said regulator; means for continuously moving said movably mounted elementin parallel relation to said axis-of rotaationfo'f' s'aid regulatordn proportion to the actual tension of said =yarn*c'oiled' on said regulator; "a secondrevolving element for controlling the output of "said yarn comprising a cone over which said 'yarnhas a'givennumberof coils-said "cone being connected to "said -'cylinder at the i base I of theconeya'shaft integral with said-'cylinder; -a

power transmission means interconnected betweensaidshaft and 'a-power source and asupp'orting member located adjacent to said-cone for "supporting "said "coils 'of yarn around said control'cone. V I

.10. A yarn-feederwhich comprises-in'combination, at least'one revolvingtension "regulator havingtheyarn-cOiled thereon, said regulator compriSinga cylinden means for rotating'saidregulator'witha peripheral-speed higher at all points than the linear'speed of "said yarn coiled thereon; a"supportingmember' locatedadj-acent to said regulator for supporting-"a fixe'dnurriberdf-coils of said yarn "around said regulator; a movably mounted "elongated element "over which at least onepa'rt*of said"coils"of ,yarn'pass; said movably mounted element having an axis parallel to the axis "of frotation 1'0f "said regulator; means for continously moving said movably mounted ele-' mentinparalll relation to said axis of rotation of said regulator in'proportion'to the actualv tension .of vtheyarn coiled on said regulator; a second revolving outputcontrollingelementcomprising a cone over which said yarn has a given numben'of coils, said'cone being connected to said cylinderiat the ;base-of;said cone; a shaft integral'withsaid cylinder; a, p0wer transmission means-interconnected between .said shaft. and .a

power source; and a supporting member. located adjacent "to said cone for supporting the coils -of saidc-yarnaround said controlcone, saidsupporting means being movably mounted so as to ibe displaoeable-along an axisparallel to the 'long'itudinaL-axisof said control cone.

11. A yarn feeder as claimed'in claim '10, in which the surface of said control cone is grooved.

12. A yarn feeder as claimed in claim 10, in which said cone-shaped controller comprises a plurality of coaxially connected cylinders of successively decreasing diameters.

13. A yarn feeder which comprises in combination, a cylinder over which the yarn to be fed is caused to make a fixed number of coils;

a cone connected to said cylinder at the base of said cone; a driving shaft integral with said cone and supporting said cone and cylinder; a frame for the feeder; a rod connected to said frame, said rod being movably mounted so as to be movable in parallel relation to the axis of said cylinder; a part of said coils of yarn passing over said rod; a fixed rod arranged in parallel relation to the axis of said cylinder and adjacent to said cylinder and said movably mounted rod; a supporting element located adjacent to said cylinder for supporting said coils of said yarn around said cylinder, said supporting element being freely mounted on said frame; and a second supporting element for coils of said yarn passing oversaid cone, said second supporting element being 1 d movably mounte'dso as to be *di-splaceable along an axi's parallel to the =axis==of said cone.

14. -A yarn feeder which comprises in '-'combination, a cylinder on which the yarn to be fed iscausedto -make'- a fixed number of -coils a cone connected -'-with said cylinder at the base of 'said cone; adriving shaft-integral with-said cone and supporting said cone and cylinder; a irame for saidfeeder; a rod connected to=said frame s-aid rod Ming movably mounted so as "to move in a parallel -'-r'elation to the axis of said a cylinder, a part -"of said coils of warn passing 1 over said -ro'd a 'fixedrod' 'supp orted in apos'ition'parallel' to-said axis-of said 'cylinder and adjacent to "said-cylinder-iandsaid niovably mounted rod; a supporting member for said coils of yarn around said cylinder, said supporting member comprising -a grooved cylinder "freely mounted on :said frame; and "a "second --supporting means for coils -'of sa'id yarn around said cone, said second supporting means being -movably mounted so as "to be dis-- placeable' alongan-axis parallel 'to 'th'e axis df the cone.

1 5. LA yarn feeder*whichcomprises in combination,-a cylinder on wliich' -the yarn to be'fe'd is caused to' make a fixed number of coils; I a cone connected -to -'-said 'cylin'der at the 'base of said cone; 1 a driving shaft integral with said cone and supportingsaid cone and said cylinder; a frame for "the feeder; "-a "rod connected to said "frame, said rodbeing movably mounted so as t0 m0Ve in parallel relation to the axis 'of said cylinder, *a

part "of said coils of -yarnpassing over said rod;

a second 'rod fixedly 'mounted i in parallel "relation to said axis of said cylinder adjacent' to said "cylinder and said -'movab1y moun'ted rod a supporting means for said -ccils of yarn around said cylinder, said supporting means comprising agroovedcylinder freely mounted on said-frame; a second supporting means for coils 'made by -a grooved cylinder frely mounted on. a member which is slidably mounted oma rod integral with said frame; and means to lock said 'sli'dably mounted'member on said'rod integral With'Said framein"aselectedposition. 1 6. A"yarn"feeder-according'to claim 15, comprising in additionan adjustable counter-weight connected to -said movably n1ountedrod'to baleancesaidmovably mounted rod.

-'I7.' Yarn feeder "which" comprises in combination,- a tensionmegulating device, constituted '-by two parallel cylinders around which the yarn to be fed makes a fixed number of coils; means for driving these cylinders rotatively at the same peripheral speed, higher at all points than the linear speed of the yarn; a supporting element for supporting the coils made by the yarn around this regulator; an elongated element movable in a plane parallel to the axis of the cylinders on which passes at least one part of the said coils; a cone-shaped revolving output controller on which the yarn coming out of the regulator makes a given number of coils means for driving this controller with a peripheral speed equal to the speed which the same yarn is to have as it enters said controller; and means for supporting the coils made by the yarn around this conand in mesh simultaneously with each of these two pinions; means for supporting the coils of yarn; a cone integral with the end of this driving shaft on which the yarn, having left the cylinder, makes a given number of coils; means for moving at will these coils along the cone; and an elongated element movable in a plane parallel to the axis of the cylinders and on which passes at least a part of the coils of yarn coiled around these cylinders.

19. Yarn feeder which comprises in combination, two parallel cylinders around which the yarn to be fed makes a fixed number of coils; a pinion integral with each cylinder, these pinions having the same number of teeth; a driving shaft; a pinion clamped on this shaft and in mesh simultaneously with each of these two pinions; a fixed block arranged between the two cylinders and provided with grooves supporting the yarn; at least one fixed rod keeping these coils in these grooves; an elongated element movable in a plane parallel to the axis of the cylinders, disposed near one of the two cylinders between the said fixed rod and the said cylinder and on which passes at least a part of the coils of yarn coiled on these cylinders; a cone integral with the end of this driving shaft on which the yarn having left the cylinder makes a given number of coils; and means for moving at will these coils along the cone.

20. Yarn feeder according to claim 19, in which the elongated element movable in a plane parallel to the axis of the cylinder is submitted to the action of a spring having a small power which tends to space it away from the corresponding cylinder.

21. Yarn feeder for feeding yarn to a knitting machine which comprises in combination, at least one revolving tension regulator; means for driving this regulator rotatively with a peripheral speed higher at all points than the linear speed of the yarn to be fed; supporting means for supporting the coils made by the yarn around this regulator; a movable element on which passes at least part of the coils of yarn; means for continuously moving this movable element in parallel relation to the axis of this regulator depending on the actual tension of the yarn; a revolving output controller on which the yarn thereafter makes a given number of coils; means for driving this controller with a peripheral speed equal to the linear speed which the yarn is to have 12 as it enters this controller; means supporting the coils made by the yarn around this controller; and a resisting device constituted by a given number of fixed rods between which are disposed mobile rods borne by a lever the second arm of Lwhich is submitted to the action of the yarn placed between these fixed rods and these mobile regulator, depending on the actual tension of the yarn; a revolving output controller on which the yarn thereafter makes a given number of coils; means for driving this controller with a peripheral speed equal to the speed which the yarn is to have as it enters the said controller; means supporting the coils made by the yarn around this controller; and a time delayed or temporized control for the starting and the stoppage of the yarn feeder, interposed between the latter and the driving shaft.

23. Yarn feeder according to claim 22, in which this control is constituted by at least one finger which penetrates, at the beginning of the operation, in the threads of at least one screw located appropriately and the starting or the stoppage of the yarn feeding device is effective only when this finger has run over a suitable and adjustable. length of the threads of the screw.

GUSTAVE CHARLES AUGUSTE ALRIC.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,977,686 Mayer Oct. 23, 1934 2,109,863 Lawson Mar. 1, 1938 2,217,225 Lawson Oct. 8, 1940 2,333,705 Cooper Nov. 9, 1943 2,399,403 St. Pierre Apr. 30, 1946' 2,441,118 Boncrant May 4, 1948 2,471,362 Vin May 24, 1949 

